theshootist Posted January 24, 2014 Report Share Posted January 24, 2014 I have been thinking about buying a 20 bore semi-auto for my other half in an effort to get her something really soft shooting. As I have an interest in older and/or more obscure guns, I have been thinking about the above two Brownings. Does anyone have experience of either? Do you think they offer better build quality than the modern alternatives - beretta, browning, benelli, hatsan etc? I know that the B-80 is a Beretta 301/302 gas operated semi made for Browning. They had either steel or alloy receivers. The B2000 seems even rarer, the bits being made in Belgium and put together in Portugal. I have never seen one, but from pictures it seems to be a gas operated gun with both conventional (bottom) and side loading ports, (akin to the earlier Double Auto). Any first hand experiences would be interesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrowningDJC Posted January 24, 2014 Report Share Posted January 24, 2014 The B-80 was made by beretta and therefore does not have the speed loading. I had a 20 bore one as a starter gun when i was young, was a nice little gun. The B2000 was never sold in 20 bore in the UK, We have 4 2000's in the family and i can safely say they are the best autos i have ever shot with, build quality is fantastic and the side loading is extremely easy. They cannot be loaded from the bottom. Never had a problem with jamming on any of them, even with light loads and 65mm cartridges. If i had to get rid of either my maxus or the 2000, the maxus would be going without a doubt. I think the quailty is far above anything you would buy today. All of ours are over 30 years old and still look like new, and after lots of use. My father and uncle both have ones they purchased from new. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theshootist Posted January 24, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2014 This is just the sort of feedback that I am interested in! Ah I thought the B2000 was in 20b too, perhaps just in the states. So to load you either by feeding a sheel though the ejection port or the speed feed port on the other side and top up the magazine via the speed feed port? So what is the opening on the bottom of the action for? Is the receiver all steel? Information is pretty scarce on the net about these guns and they are not described in any of my books! Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted January 24, 2014 Report Share Posted January 24, 2014 I have no experience of the B80 but have owned a 2000 for some years now. Great pieces of kit and highly underated in my opinion. It is fixed choke at 3/4 which is a bonus as no chokes to faff about with or clean. It is my first 'go to' gun which I take with me when knocking about the farm doing the feeders etc and has accounted for countless pigeons, crows and bolting bunnies. Has never malfunctioned once in all the time I've had it. I was going to sell it to make room for another pump, and despite buying the pump I just can't bring myself to part with the Browning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theshootist Posted January 24, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2014 Sound like the B2000 is held in high estime but is not available in the UK as a 20 bore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitebridges Posted January 24, 2014 Report Share Posted January 24, 2014 I have never seen a Browning B2000 in a 20 bore. I used one for several years and loved the thing. Totally flawless in operation and loading from the side was a design masterstroke IMO. Well I let it go and got something newer and half as good. Here's a few pics from the archives. The yellow cartridges are RC Sipe 12 bore, the gun wasn't a 20 bore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrowningDJC Posted January 24, 2014 Report Share Posted January 24, 2014 To load you just open the bolt, push a cartridge through the side port in to the mag and let go, the speed load takes it up in to chamber. theres a catch underneath to use when you want to close the bolt manually. We are currently looking at importing 2 2000 20 bores from the states. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mudpatten Posted January 24, 2014 Report Share Posted January 24, 2014 I used a borrowed Browning 2000 some years ago and was impressed with it`s build quality at that time. With hindsight, it was much, much better put together than any modern browning auto. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitebridges Posted January 24, 2014 Report Share Posted January 24, 2014 To load you just open the bolt, push a cartridge through the side port in to the mag and let go, the speed load takes it up in to chamber. theres a catch underneath to use when you want to close the bolt manually. We are currently looking at importing 2 2000 20 bores from the states. Good luck with it. I bet the 20 bore version is a stonking gun. I've never done an import from the USA, have you done this before? Is the B2000 in a twenty easy to source in the States? I can imaging the paperwork to be biblical. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underdog Posted January 24, 2014 Report Share Posted January 24, 2014 Have had two B80's and always wanted a 2000. I remember something about the 2000 being built around the lines of the the old A5! U. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrowningDJC Posted January 24, 2014 Report Share Posted January 24, 2014 I haven't done it before so currently starting to look at what is involved, there are a few around, even seen some unfired boxed examples over there so fingers crossed it will all go ok. Thinking of having a sweet sixteen A5 also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theshootist Posted January 24, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2014 Mmm the ligher sweet sixteen is held in very high esteem over there. A lot to be said for these older autos. Same as the pumps really, when you look at how the Ithaca m37 is put together it makes a mossberg look like junk. Good luck bringing those 20b B2000s in, it sounds like it will be worth the effort. I have never seen a Browning B2000 in a 20 bore. I used one for several years and loved the thing. Totally flawless in operation and loading from the side was a design masterstroke IMO. Well I let it go and got something newer and half as good. Here's a few pics from the archives. The yellow cartridges are RC Sipe 12 bore, the gun wasn't a 20 bore. Thanks, good shooting and great photos! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrowningDJC Posted January 25, 2014 Report Share Posted January 25, 2014 Thanks will post pictures on here if successful, A Browning Gold 20 bore may be worth looking also at if you still want a 20 bore auto. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theshootist Posted January 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2014 (edited) have a browning gold in 12 bore 3.5". It's a great gun, I just fancied something a bit different (for the other half you understand). Reviews of the b80 with the steel receiver say that with the extra weight over the beretta or aluminium browning receivers makes them very soft shooting indeed. That's what I'm after. Edited January 25, 2014 by theshootist Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrowningDJC Posted January 25, 2014 Report Share Posted January 25, 2014 My younger sister started with a browning fusion 20 bore, light, no recoil what so ever, cycles 24 gram clay loads no problem. It really is the best of both worlds, would be ideal for your partner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theshootist Posted January 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2014 I see there was a browning 20b '2000' model which sold at holts in 2012 for £170! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrowningDJC Posted January 25, 2014 Report Share Posted January 25, 2014 That's very cheap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retromlc Posted January 25, 2014 Report Share Posted January 25, 2014 (edited) I got a franchi , hunter which is an A5 copy, it's a long stroke auto and a pleasure to shoot Edited January 25, 2014 by retromlc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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